LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 



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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



WORDS 



ENCOURAGING TO RIGHT FAITH AHD CONDUCT 



SELECTED FROM 



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The Writings of Matthew Henry 

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JOHN S. SHERMAN 




PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR 

1879 






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Copyright 

1879 

By John S. Sherman 



PREFACE. 

Matthew Henry was an 
English divine who wrote in 
the eighteenth century, distin- 
guished for his devotional spirit, 
practical piety, sound common 
sense, and intelligent views of 
the teachings of the Bible. In 
view of the life and character of 
so good and gifted a person, it 
is hoped these selections will be 
received with favor, displace 
reading that is frivolous, correct 
that which is erroneous, and 
tend to true religion. Some of 
the sentences will find response 
in many minds. 



WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT. 



Let us acknowledge God in 
the constant succession of day 
and night, and consecrate both 
to his honor, by working for 
him every day, and resting in 
him every night ; and meditating 

in his law day and night. 

•♦• 

The Scriptures were written, 

not to gratify our curiosity, and 

make us astronomers, but to 

lead us to God, and make us 

saints. 

»♦« — 

Mercies restored are much 
more affecting than mercies con- 
tinued. 

5 



WORDS OF 



Though we must not tempt 
God in the neglect of means, 
yet we must trust God in the 
want of means. 



Let us always think well of 
God as the best good, and think 
sin to be the worst of evils. Let 
us " resist the devil, and he will 
flee from us." 



The Hebrew doctors give it 
for a general rule, that every- 
thing that is for the name of 
the good God must be the 
goodliest and best. 

It is better to fear and not 
sin, than sin and then fear. 



EN CO URA GEMENT. 7 

When a bad custom is begun 

by bad men, sometimes men 

of better character are, through 

unwariness, drawn in to follow 

them. 

»»• 

They that would not eat for- 
bidden fruit, must not come 
near the forbidden tree. 



Sin is a brat that nobody is 

willing to own. 

— •++ — 

That which is to be aimed 

at, in all acts of religion, is 

Gods acceptance. 



He that feeds his birds will 
not starve his babes. 



WORDS OF 



Let us never displease God, 
by doing any act which is 
wrong, to please the best friend 
in the world. 



To prevent our being uneasy 
at the restraints of religion, it is 
good often to take a view of 
the liberties and comforts of it. 



How careful should we be, 
as we live on Gods bounty, to 
live to his glory. 



None are ruined by the jus- 
tice of God, but those who hate 
to be reformed by the grace of 
God. 



EKCO URA GEM EN T. 



If we graciously rest in God, 
God will graciously work for 
us, and work all for good. 



If sinners will but consider 
where they are, they will not 
rest till they turn to God. 



It is a certain sign of an un- 
humbled heart, to quarrel with 
those rebukes which we have, 
by our sins, brought upon our- 
selves. 

— +++ — 

God will graciously bless — 
that is, do well — to them who 
sincerely bless — that is, speak 
well of him. 



IO WORDS OF 



He was content to forego the 
privileges of religion, that he 
might not be under its precepts. 



The rainbow is the reflection 
of the beams of the sun, which 
intimates that all the glory, and 
significancy, of the seals of 
the covenant are derived from 
Christ, the Sun of Righteous- 
ness, who also is described with 
a rainbow about his throne. 



Though Divine curses ope- 
rate slowly, yet first or last they 
will take effect ; many are marked 
for ruin that are not yet ripe 
for ruin. 



EJVCO URA GEMENT. 1 1 

In all our choices, this prin- 
ciple should overrule us, that 
this is best for us, that is best 
for our souls. 



Those that venture in a good 
cause, with a good heart, are 
under the special protection of 

a good God. 

— ♦*-• — 

It will greatly help both our 
faith and our reverence in prayer 
to eye God as the Most High 
God, and to call him so. 



It is good to learn of others 
how to order our speech concern- 
ing God, and to imitate those 
who speak well in divine things. 



12 WORDS OF 

An active believer can heartily 
bless God for a promise he does 
not yet see the performance of; 
and build an altar to the honor of 
God, who appears to him though 
he does not appear yfrr him. 

As piety is a friend to out- 
ward prosperity, so outward 
prosperity, if well managed, is 
an ornament to piety, and an 
opportunity of doing so much 

more good. 

— —~ — 

God Almighty never did, nor 
ever will, do any wrong to any 
of the creatures, either by with- 
holding that which is right, or 
by exacting more than is right. 



EN CO URA GEMENT. 1 3 

The gifts of common provi- 
dences are not comparable to 
those of covenant love. 



Those do not rightly value 
the advantage of their covenant 
relation to God, and interest in 
him, who do not think it to 
balance the want of any created 
comfort whatever. 



It is a dangerous thing to 
make light of Divine institu- 
tions, and to live in the neglect 

of them. 

— •+-. — 

Those who would have com- 
munion with God must earnest- 
ly desire it and pray for it. 



1 4 WORDS OF 

It is hard to cleave to the 
First Cause, when second causes 
frown. 



Those only can expect the 

blessings of the promises who 

make conscience of their duty. 
— •-♦-. — 

Those who, through grace, are 
themselves delivered out of a sin- 
ful state, should do what they 
can for the deliverance of others. 



He that is the Saviour, will 
be the Destroyer of those who 

reject the salvation. 

*♦* 

Our communion with God 
is to be kept up in providences 
as well as in ordinances. 



ENCO URA GEM EN T. 1 5 

Those who have turbulent 
spirits, have commonly trouble- 
some lives; they that are pro- 
voking and injurious to others, 
must expect to be repaid in their 

own coin. 

— *-*« — 

It is a great mercy to be hin- 
dered from committing sin. Of 
this God must have the glory, 
whoever is the instrument. 



Those whom God has con- 
vinced of sin and danger, ought 
to tell others what God has 
done for them, that they also 
may be awakened, and brought 
to a like holy fear. 



1 6 WORDS OF 

It is our wisdom to get and 
keep an interest with those who 
have an interest in heaven, and 
to make those our friends who 
are the friends of God. 



God's providences look best 
and brightest when they are 
compared with his word, and 
when we observe how God in 
them all acts as he has said, as 
he has spoken. 



Gods promises and our ex- 
periences are sufficient to en- 
courage our dependence upon 
God, and our expectation from 
him, in all the affairs of this life. 



EN CO URAGEMENT. I 7 

It is presumptuous to say 
that all those who are left out 
of the eternal dispensation of 
God's covenant are therefore 
excluded from all his mercies: 
those may be saved who are 
not thus honored. 



God will cause that to issue 
in our comfort in which we sin- 
cerely aim at his glory. 



It is the comfort as well as 
the belief of a good man that 
Gods providence extends itself 
to the smallest occurrences, and 
admirably serves its own pur- 
poses by them. 



1 8 WORDS OF 

What we win by prayer we 
must wear with praise, for mer- 
cies in answer to prayer lay us 
under particular obligation. 



Those that are our people 
while we live, whether the peo- 
ple of God or the children of 
this world, are the people to 
whom death will gather us. 



The intrinsic worth of Gods 
promises cannot be lessened in 
a believers eye by any cross 

providences. 

*++ 

Truth is the daughter of 
time, and in time it will out. 



EN CO URA GEMENT. 1 9 

While there is such an alloy 
of sin as there is in our duties, 
we must expect an alloy of 
trouble in our comforts. 



Sometimes it is requisite that 
a reproof should be given warm, 
like a physical potion, not too 
hot lest it scald the patient, yet 
not cold lest it prove ineffectual. 



Those who are ever so careful 

to keep a good conscience, yet 

cannot always be sure of a good 

name. 

•+• 

Providence has ways of mak- 
ing those honest in the event 
that are not so in their designs. 



20 WORDS OF 

Bad men will do more to 
serve their sinful passions, than 
good men will to serve their just 

affections. 

*+-» 

The safety of good men is 
very much owing to the hold 
God has of the consciences of 
bad men, and the access he has 

to them. 

*♦♦ ■ 

Those who will do nothing 
to make themselves amiable, 
love to be thought formidable. 



Where we have a tent, God 
must have an altar; where we 
have a house, he must have a 
church in it. 



ENCO URA GEMENT. 2 1 

A lively apprehension of dan- 
ger, and a quickening fear aris- 
ing from it, may very well con- 
sist in a humble confidence in 
God's power and promise. 



God answers our prayers by 
teaching us to order our affairs 
with discretion. 



Many preserve themselves by 
humbling themselves ; the bullet 

flies over him that stoops. 

. — — «-*-© — - 

The interest we have in any 
persons, and the hold we have 
of them, should be wisely im- 
proved by us to bring them to 
the love and practice of religion. 



2 2 WORDS OF 

Things never go well when 
the authority of a parent runs 
low in the family. 



Human life begins with sor- 
row, and the roses of its joy are 
surrounded with thorns. 



The laying up of Gods ora- 
cles in our hearts will be of excel- 
lent use to us in all our conduct. 



We are bound in honor, as 
well as justice and gratitude, 
not in anything to injure those 
who have a good opinion of us, 
and place a trust in us, how 
secret soever it may be done. 



ENCO URA GEM EN T. 2 3 

When we are called to vindi- 
cate ourselves, we should care- 
fully avoid as much as may be 

speaking ill of others. 

— •-♦-• — 

See how near sorrow and joy 
are to each other in this world, 
when tears serve for the expres- 
sion of both. 



It is our wisdom to reconcile 
ourselves to the sorest afflictions 
and make the best of them, for 
there is nothing got by striving 
with our Maker. 



Tears of tenderness and affec- 
tion are no disparagement at all, 
even to good and wise men. 



24 WORDS OF 

Indecent words spoken in 
haste to our superiors should be 
recalled and amended. 



Wealth sometimes brings as 
much care along with it as want, 
and more too. 



It is better to be the credit of 
a mean post than the shame of 

a high one. 

-*~* — 

Our comforts then are doubly 
sweet to us when we see them 
coming from God. 



Those that throw away their 
virtue must not expect to save 
their reputation. 



ENCOURAGEMENT. 25 

Young people would better 

consult their own interest if 

they would less indulge their 

own wills. 

•-*-• 

The lot of God's providence 
exactly agrees with the plans 
of Gods counsel like a true copy 

of the original. 

. ♦♦* 

Those who would be fearless 
must keep themselves guiltless. 



Men know not what they do 
or what enemies they are to 
their own interest, when they 
resist and despise faithful re- 
proofs and reprovers. 



26 WORDS OF 

It is rare that those that are 
most amiable to their friends are 
most formidable to their ene- 
mies. 



Gods covenant relation to us 
as our own God is the best sup- 
port in the worst of times. 



Whom God by his grace de- 
livers out of a spiritual Egypt 
he will bring to a heavenly 
Canaan. 

It is a good sign that God is 
coming with deliverance when 
he inclines and enables us to 
cry to him for it. 



EN CO URA GEM EN T. 2 7 

In times of extreme difficulty 
it is good to venture upon the 

promises of God. 

- — — ♦-♦-• 

Those who have had a liberal 
education, yet should not be 
strangers to servile work, because 
they know not what necessity 
may be put on them for working 
for themselves, or what oppor- 
tunity Providence may give them 
of being serviceable to others. 



If God gives us an oppor- 
tunity and a heart to serve him, 
it is a happy and encouraging 
earnest of further favors designed 
us. 



WORDS OF 



Even self-diffidence, when it 
grows into an extreme, when 
it either hinders us from duty 
or discourages our dependence 
upon the grace of God, is very 
displeasing to him. 



Solitude has its advantages, 
but they seldom balance the 
loss of Christian communion. 



When we return to God in 
the way of duty, he will return 
to us in a way of mercy. 



The sufficiency of grace can 
supply the defects of nature at 
any time. 



EN CO URA GEMENT. 2 9 

By indulging ourselves in dis- 
content and fretfulness we de- 
prive ourselves of the comfort 
we might have both from Gods 
word and from his providence. 



Communion with God and 
serviceableness to his church 
are things that above any other 
put true honor upon men. 



Peace with God makes men 
thunder-proof, for it is the voice 
of their Father. 



Nature is contented with lit- 
tle, grace with less, but lust with 



£5 

nothing 



30 



WORDS OF 



True penitents lament sin as 

committed against God, even 

their own God, to whom they 

stand obliged. 

•-*« 

We must come up to the de- 
mands of God's will, for we 
cannot expect he should to the 
provisions of our lusts. 



To be angry at nothing but 
sin, is the way not to sin in 



anger. 



We may be in the way of 
our duty, following God and 
hastening toward heaven, and 
yet may be in great straits, 
" troubled on every side." 



EN CO URAGEMENT. 3 1 

When our heads are fullest 
of cares, and our hands of busi- 
ness, yet we must not forget our 
religion nor suffer ourselves to 
be indisposed for acts of devo- 
tion. 

•♦• 

Our constant endeavor should 
be, by praising God's name and 
serving his interest, to exalt God, 
and it is an advancement to us 
to be so employed. 



The God of Nature has not 
tied himself to its laws, but 
when he pleases dispenses with 
them, and then fire does not 
burn nor the water flow. 



WORDS OF 



It is a great provocation to 
God for us to question his pres- 
ence, providence, or promises. 



Whatever we have the joy 
of, God must have the praise 

of it. 

— — ♦♦• 

We must retain the remem- 
brance of God's works that we 
may remain under the influence 
of God's laws. 



The pleasures of sense are 
puddle water — spiritual delights 
are rock water, so pure, so 
clear, so refreshing, rivers of 
pleasure! 



ENCO URA GEM EN T. 3 3 

It tends much to the encour- 
agement of faith to reflect upon 
the great things God has done 
for us, and review the monu- 
ments of his favor. 



Mutual friendship is sancti- 
fied by joint worship. 

*♦« < 

Wisdom is profitable to direct, 
that we may neither content 
ourselves with less than our duty, 
nor overtask ourselves with that 

which is beyond our strength. 

— ++— — 

The fear of God is that prin- 
ciple which will best fortify a 
man from all temptations to in- 
justice. 



34 WORDS OF 

We ought to be tender of 
the lives even of bad men ; the 
magistrate must right us, and 
we must not avenge ourselves. 



It is at our peril if we break 
the bounds that God has set us, 
and venture upon that he has 
not allowed us. 



Those who would be kept 
free from sin must keep them- 
selves from the occasion of it. 



If we unjustly get and keep 
that which is another's, it will 
not only waste itself, but it will 
consume that which is our own. 



EN CO URA GEM EN T. 3 5 

Public persons are then pub- 
lic blessings when they lay out 
themselves in their places to 
promote the public worship of 

God. 

♦♦♦ 

General usage will not excuse 
us in a bad practice. 



Good princes find their gov- 
ernment a constant care, and 
their people find it a constant 
blessing. 

Our daily devotions must be 
looked upon as the most need- 
ful of our daily works, and the 
most pleasant of our daily com- 
forts. 



36 WORDS OF 

Our two great concerns with 
God are to be acquitted from 
guilt and accepted as righteous 
in his sight. 



God will not fail to give those 
the meeting who diligently and 
conscientiously attend upon him 
in the ordinances of his appoint- 
ment. 

•♦• 

Skill in common arts and em- 
ployments is the gift of God, and 
from him are both the faculty 
and the improvement of the 

faculty. 

. *+* 

The malignity of sin appears 
in the price of pardon. 



ENCO URA GEM EN T. 3 7 

In God we see nothing but 
what is pure and pleasant; in 
the world, nothing but pollution 

and provocation. 

— »♦« — 

God's good work in us is the 
surest discovery of his good will 
toward us. 



Calls to repentance are plain 

indications of mercy designed. 

»♦♦ 

When God designs mercies 
he stirs up to prayer. 



Fixed views of God are re- 
served for the future state ; the 
best we have in this world are 
transient. 



3$> WORDS OF 

How easily can God weaken 
the strongest, befool the wisest, 
and baffle the most watchful. 



Munificence recommends a 
man more than magnificence. 



When the heart is enlarged 
by cheerfulness, that should open 
the hand to liberality. 



Every transgression in the 
covenant will not throw us out 
of covenant. 



The observance of the laws of 
Christ cannot be less necessary 
than that of the laws of Moses. 



ENCOURAGEMENT. 39 

Those that would offer ac- 
ceptable sacrifices to God must 
separate themselves from the 
wicked and profane. 



They that hate to be refined 
by the fire of divine grace will 
undoubtedly be ruined by the 
fire of divine wrath. 



Mere mercy itself will not 

save without the interposal of a 

mediator. 

»♦♦ 

We are not allowed to pick 
and choose our duties, but must 
aim at standing complete in all 
the will of God. 



4° WORDS OF 

If the eye of our faith be unto 
God, the eye of his favor will be 
unto us. 

■ «~«-o 

It is good having fellowship 
with those that have fellowship 
with God, and going with those 
with whom God is. 



Difficulties that lie in the way 
of salvation dwindle and vanish 
before a lively, active faith in the 
power and promise of God. 

If we would share in divine 
joys, we must carefully follow 
the divine conduct. 



Everything that grieves us 
should bring us to God. 



ENCOURAGEMENT. 4 1 

Others' sufferings for our sakes 
should grieve us more than our 
own. 



Let us be constant to our 
duty, and we cannot question 

the constancy of God's mercy. 

•♦• 

The way to have the comfort 
in what God allows us is to for- 
bear what he forbids us. 



All methods of accommoda- 
tion must be used before we go 

to war or law. 

»** 

Nor must those seem vile in 
our sight to whom, for aught we 
know, God may yet give grace 
to make precious in his sight. 



42 



WORDS OF 



Let our tongues be employed 
about the word of God, let it be 
the subject of our familiar dis- 
course, wherever we are, espe- 
cially with our children, who 
must be taught the service of 
God as the one thing needful, 
much more needful than the 
rules of decency or the calling 
they must live by in this world. 

That obedience pleases best 

which comes from a principle 

of delight in Gods goodness. 
++* — ■ 

Modesty is the hedge of chas- 
tity, and therefore ought to be 
very carefully preserved and kept 
up by both sexes. 



ENCOURAGEMENT. 43 

The way to obtain peace with 
our friends, and success against 
our enemies, is to make God our 
friend and keep ourselves in his 

love. 

•♦« 

While we make God's pre- 
cepts our rule, his promise our 
stay, and his providences our 
guide, we need not dread the 
greatest difficulties we may meet 
with in the way of duty. 

God is pleased with willing 
worship, but not with will wor- 
ship. 

— ».*-* 

God is a friend that will not 
fail us when other friends do. 



44 



WORDS OF 



We must make that most our 
own which we have an oppor- 
tunity of honoring God with, 
and employing in his service. 



We must never be overcome 
either by majesty or multitude 
to do a sinful thing, or go 

against conscience. 

. — •-«-« — 

A charitable disposition ex- 
pects only opportunity, not im- 
portunity, to do good, and will 

succor upon sight unsought unto. 

•♦♦ 

We must never think well of 
that which God in his law frowns 
upon, though in his providence 
he seems to smile upon it. 



ENCO URA GEM EN T. 45 

The springs of mercy are al- 
ways full, the streams of mercy 
are always flowing ; there is 
mercy enough in God, enough 
for all, enough for each, enough 

forever. 

•♦• 

Let us check all sinful desires 

in our own hearts against God 

and his glory, and then trust 

him to check all sinful desires in 

the hearts of others against us 

and our interests. 



Gracious persons measure 
their comforts and conveniences 
in this world by the opportunity 
they give them of communion 
with God. 



46 WORDS OF 

Our religious services are not 
acceptable to God if they have 
not a due influence upon our- 
selves. 

.». 

To reduced greatness, gene- 
rosity obliges us ; to oppressed 
goodness, piety obliges us to be 
in a particular manner kind to 
the utmost of our power. 



If a great man be a good man, 
his goodness will be much more 
his satisfaction than his great- 
ness. 

— •+* — 

If we in sincerity offer our 
hearts to God, he will by his 
grace kindle holy fire in them. 



ENCOURAGEMENT. 47 

The ruin of the enemies of 
Christ's kingdom is as sure as 
the stability of his kingdom, and 
both as sure as the being and 
life of God, the founder of it. 

When we are magnifying the 
causes of our fear, we ought to 
possess ourselves with clear and 
great and high thoughts of God 
and the invisible world ! 



48 WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT. 

I. 

Our Heavenly Father's gracious word — 
Though foes assail and want is nigh — 

Says that his people are to him 
Dear as the apple of his eye. 

II. 

So then we would in covenant 

Join ourselves in love, O God, to thee ; 
Take thine anointed Christ as ours, 

And thy dear people ever be. 

III. 

Then, be clouds or sunshine 

With us all our way along, 
We may believe we shall be led, 

And join at length the heavenly throng. 



JOHN S. SHERMAN, 

Brooklyn, N. Y. 



.IBRARY OF CONGRESS 



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